For those who don’t know the tool: Boris FX Sapphire is a long-standing plugin suite for compositing, finishing, and broadcast design. It runs in Premiere Pro, After Effects, Avid Media Composer, DaVinci Resolve, and Nuke. Sapphire Builder, the node-based editor inside Sapphire, lets users combine multiple filters and create reusable presets for a consistent studio look.
From Synthesis to Sapphire
Following the well-received Syntheyes Essentials training, Boris FX is back with Sapphire Builder Essentials, a free 11-part video course that takes about an hour to complete. Published in December 2025, the training focuses on getting both editors and artists comfortable with Sapphire’s Builder environment and its cross-host workflows.
The videos, presented by product specialist Grant Kay, introduce Sapphire’s extensive filter library, Lens Flare Designer, and the Builder’s node-based workflow for combining multiple effects. The lessons are structured for quick learning, moving from basic setup to professional features such as linked parameters, preset export, and transition creation.
Get all the Videos here: https://borisfx.com/free-training/sapphire-builder-essentials/
Multi-host, one look
Once the groundwork is set, Kay demonstrates how Builder expands Sapphire’s traditional one-filter-per-clip workflow into a modular, node-based design space. Users can layer, branch, and combine filters into complex effects while keeping parameters clearly organised for team-wide use.
Smart presets, real pipelines
A significant portion of the course covers parameter linking and preset management, features often overlooked in casual plugin use but essential in production environments. Viewers learn to connect parameters, expose only relevant controls, and export custom presets to the shared Sapphire Preset Browser, ensuring every workstation produces identical results.
Further episodes explore practical aspects such as handling multiple inputs (foreground, background, and matte), integrating text or graphics from the host, and managing preset compatibility across machines. The training ends with a look at Builder’s system messages and how to handle common warnings, particularly those related to parameter limits in Premiere Pro and time-based effects.
Designed for working artists
Although relatively short, the course presents a clear path for professionals wanting to bring order and repeatability to Sapphire-based looks. By concentrating on collaboration, preset standardisation, and version consistency, Sapphire Builder Essentials positions Sapphire not only as a creative toolkit but also as a reliable production component across hosts. The entire 11-part training is available for free on the Boris FX training portal. As with all new tools and updates, users are advised to test Builder workflows in a controlled environment before rolling them out to client projects.
